MID-WEST FARM REPORT - MADISON

The music at the beginning? That is a tape recording of the Association of Women in Agriculture’s first barbershop quartet rehearsing for the winter ball competition at UW-Madison 50 years ago. They called themselves Tootsie Rose, the first female group. AWA Founding Member Phyllis Gerner Agnew says they won first place much to the dismay of the male fraternities on campus. AWA is celebrating 50 y...

Ethanol industry leaders are optimistic about the future of the industry and E15. That's according to Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol.  He says, “As of now, the Renewable Fuel Standard(RFS) is operating under a rule set by the EPA for the next three years, providing stability and a clear roadmap until 2025. The established mandate of around 15 billion gallons for conventi...

Food trends and flavors are being revealed for 2024 and Wisconsin restaurant owners are paying attention.  Susan Quam is the executive director of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and she sees themes that started during the pandemic continuing in 2024.  She also sees the "midwest being cool" when it comes to flavor profiles.  She lets Pam Jahnke in on the expectations. The Wisconsin Farmers Un...

Carbon markets are on the upswing and growing.  That's according to Clay Craighton, strategic accounts manager of Agoro Carbon. Craighton says with there being more stability in the market, its a good time to get involved. "Our program accommodates diverse agricultural practices, ensuring alignment with each grower's specific operations," says Craighton. For farmers seeking guidance on initiating...

Finn Johnson, agricultural business development manager at Madison Area Drone Service, says the busy season for drones is typically now. After the rush of the harvest, growers sit down to explore how a drone might make their lives easier for the following growing season. Because of the licensure and recommended practice time, Johnson says make your decision now so that you're ready to operate your...

Wisconsin farmers are sharing how they use cover crops and helping to improve cover cropping for farmers all around the state through the Wisconsin Cover Crop Survey. Dan Smith, Southwest Regional Agronomist for UW-Madison, says this survey has helped them to fill critical knowledge gaps concerning the performance of cover crops after different harvest cycles. “The primary goal of the survey was t...

No-till and cover crop systems can create a high-reside environment. This may cause you to have to make some tweaks to your planting equipment, seed selection, and more. But where do you even start? Derek Ducat, owner of Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee, has the tips and tricks of what’s helped him be successful planting into these high-residue environments.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Rain, sleet, snow, mud, and ice can be a MESS! It’s not easy taking care of animals outside in the cold, especially in Wisconsin winters. Some horses do well on their own with a little extra hair, food, and shelter while others may not. Dr. Howard Ketover, veterinarian at Irongate Equine Clinic says there’s several things to take into consideration when it comes to caring for your horses in the wi...

 Attorney Troy Schneider works out of Chilton, WI. When you think of tools on the farm, you may think of tractors, robotic milkers or a fence post driver. Well add prenup to the list. That's right, a prenuptial agreement can be a tool to protect the farm's legacy when the unspeakable happens -- a marriage is terminated in the event of a death or a divorce. Attorney Troy Schneider out of Chilton, W...

Net farm income for 2023 is still above the 20-year average, but it’s fallen 25 percent from last year. Renk Agribusiness Institute Director Paul Mitchell joins us in-studio. Even though farm income is down, the cost of doing business is not. He projects where input prices will go in 2024 and how producers should be thinking about risk management. In other news, Mitchell is gearing up for the Wisc...

The Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference is happening now. This conference is the formerly known Wisconsin Cover crops and Discovery Farms conferences combined and allows for an even broader range of topics to be covered.  Chelsea Zegler, Wisconsin Water and Soil Health Conference co-chair and says that even though it’s the first time this conference is happening under this new name, they’ve...

The state of Wisconsin is expanding farmland preservation agreements and increasing the tax credits. Farmland Preservation is a voluntary program that gives financial incentives for farmers to keep their land in production while preserving soil and water quality. Some of the new changes are that the time commitment to the program is shorter and the financial incentive is higher. Buffalo County dai...

The state of Wisconsin is expanding farmland preservation agreements and increasing the tax credits. Farmland Preservation is a voluntary program that started in the 70s. It gives financial incentives for farmers to keep their land in production while preserving soil and water quality. Some of the new changes in recently passed legislation are that the time commitment to the program is shorter and...

Wisconsin's weather can be challenging no matter what your profession.  If you're a beekeeper, minding the details is critical.  Charitee Seebecker visits with bee yard owner, Tim Wilbanks, about the technologies he uses to protect his bees, and where some of the greatest challenges lie in keeping bees alive and thriving. Anna Maenner is the new general manager of the state's largest outdoor agric...

Despite weather challenges during the planting and growing season, Wisconsin's potato growers have reported a successful harvest with above-average yields and excellent quality produce. This is according to Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan. He explains more about how the growing season went and trends in the market with new potato varieties.    S...

It’s been a challenging year for pork. The National Pork Producers Council says input costs were up about 60 percent from where they were three years ago. And the price of pork isn’t supporting that. Unfortunately, the challenges don’t stop there. NPPC President Scott Hays says patchwork regulations around the country are a growing issue. California’s Proposition 12 is an example of how a state wa...

The holiday season is one of the best times to highlight Wisconsin's dairy products, dairy farmers and dairy processors.  Rachel Kerr is the Senior Director of Experiential and Brand Marketing for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin .  Through industry research, DFW has found some common trends in what consumers are looking for during the holiday season. Kerr visits with Pam Jahnke and explains that today'...

When we were going into 2023, the general consensus on the farm economy was that farms were starting the year in a good position and had enough flexibility to weather any storms, such as market volatility. As we get started in 2024 – the news isn’t as optimistic. Chad Hart is an economics professor, crop specialist and market economist out of Iowa State University. He walks us through some of the...

The Cattlemen's Beef Board aims to advance research, education, and promotional activities within the beef sector. Since its start in 1985, their beef checkoff has been a dollar per head. However with inflation, they’re not getting that full dollar value. Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) says with inflation and rising costs impacting their purchasing power, they're only getting...

It's easy to get excited about the holiday season.  From presents and food, to holiday decor - we can take it over the top!  While a lot of that is not only enjoyable, and preferred, some things we do might actually put the state's ecosystem at risk. Shahla Werner, Plant Protection Section Manager at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has been following...

High-oleic soybeans have been around since 2012. They were designed for a healthier fry-oil. But Wisconsin dairies have an opportunity to use these beans for a healthier bottom line. Liz Knutson is the soybean marketing leader for Pioneer. She says new data shows that high-oleic beans could be a quality feed ingredient. High-oleic beans would be brand new to Wisconsin. But dairies in the Northeast...

Today Wisconsin's got snow flurries but by Thursday it'll be sunshine and 50 degrees!  That's a big swing for a baby calf to manage.  Pam Jahnke talks to Courtney Halbach, Outreach Specialist with the Dairyland Initiative.  Housed with the UW-School of Veterinary Medicine, they provide all kinds of insight into taking care of our livestock in those erratic weather conditions. Leadership changes he...

Novozymes BioAg offers plant health solutions to farmers, and they'll be engaging in the animal health space after acquiring Chr. Hansen. Director of Sales Jason Ward says biologics are gaining momentum in the marketplace. The products are not 'new', but more companies are entering the space, creating more buzz around natural plant health products. While the news of Novozymes' acquisition of Chr....

The cost and availability of propane didn't take the spotlight this year with such a warm fall. Not to mention, the warm, dry weather helped with grain drying. This is making propane prices favorable, according to Michael Newland, the director of agriculture business development at the Propane Education Research Council. He says inventories are at their highest levels in the last 5 years.  “This s...

In the Upper Midwest, some corn growers saw tar spot for the first time this year in regions where they didn’t anticipate it. Dry conditions didn't eradicate the problem completely. FMC says growers need to consider tar spot as they plan for the 2024 season – you never know if you’ll get the perfect conditions for that disease to cause problems. This is the word from Gail Stratman, regional techni...